Month: January 2018

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan — New Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin admitted Wednesday that, like the rest of the basketball world, he was surprised he was traded away from the LA Clippers on Monday. “Shocked is a good way to put it,” Griffin said during his introductory press conference at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Now

6:00 PM ET Mark KriegelESPN HERMOSA BEACH — There’s a universal geometry to combat, and Gilberto Ramirez can’t help but recall the grace of the gunman that day: the way he parried with his empty hand, halting the arc of the knife, then dipping to find the exposed midsection with his muzzle. Less graceful was

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — New England Patriots team president Jonathan Kraft said in an interview with NFL Network that quarterback Tom Brady will be given latitude to decide when he retires. Robert & Jonathan Kraft sit down with @Andrea_Kremer before #SuperBowlLII. (via @GMFB) pic.twitter.com/ffZw50W8Z1 — New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 31, 2018 Brady, 40, led the

Lou DiBella, who has promoted several of Deontay Wilder’s heavyweight world title fights, has added a pair of big men, Stephan Shaw and Oleksandr “Sasha” Teslenko, to his lineup. DiBella announced the signings Tuesday. Shaw and Teslenko will have the first fights of their promotional deals on Feb. 7 on DiBella’s “Broadway Boxing” card at

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a deal with free-agent catcher Alex Avila, according to multiple reports. Avila batted .239 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 35 games for the Chicago Cubs after being acquired in a midseason trade with the Detroit Tigers last year. The nine-year veteran catcher hit .274 with 11

2017 for the UFC was the first full year under new ownership, as the promotion implemented its new state of normal for the sport. And while plenty of interesting things happened inside the Octagon, victories from the UFC’s biggest stars were not one of them. The absence of Ronda Rousey armbar victories and of Conor

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr is wary about fatigue affecting the home-based Super Eagles in their African Nations Championship semi final with Sudan on Wednesday. Salisu Yusuf’s side came from behind to beat Angola 2-1 in their quarter final at the weekend to set up a showdown with a Falcons of Jediane team who held hosts

2:18 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports Ryan Truex has had chances to prove he possesses the talent worthy of a well-funded NASCAR Cup ride. In 2018, he might have his last chance. Truex, 25, will compete in the Xfinity

As coach Tony Granato pores over video to prepare for the Olympics, he constantly reminds himself of something. This was Jim Johannson’s team. And to Granato, it still is even after the unexpected death of the United States general manager. “From start to finish it will be and always will be,” Granato said of Johannson,

BOSTON — By pushing for his 2018 salary to be determined by an independent third party, Mookie Betts bet big on himself. On Wednesday, he won. Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts was awarded a $10.5 million salary in arbitration. Jim Cowsert/USA TODAY Sports In a decision that could have far-reaching ramifications, Betts defeated the Boston Red

2:43 PM GMT ESPN staff As football’s window draws to a close with transfer deadline day across Europe, Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani believes a similar concept needs to be introduced in rugby. This season has seen the likes of Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb and David Strettle all announce moves away from their clubs mid-season. However,

Bolstered by his experience of Perth Stadium’s first official cricket fixture between Australia and England on Sunday, Tim Paine is hoping that Perth Scorchers will be burdened by the expectations of a sell-out crowd of more than 50,000 spectators when the Big Bash League’s most vaunted team takes on Hobart Hurricanes in the first semi-final.

1:52 PM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN Mike Fisher has decided to end his retirement from the NHL and rejoin the Nashville Predators, with whom he played in the Stanley Cup Final last season. Fisher signed a professional tryout contract in order to begin working out with the team, and he expects to sign a contract for

Chelsea have completed moves for Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud and AS Roma defender Emerson Palmieri. But will both be able to play in the knockout stages of the Champions League? To put it simply: YES! UEFA Champions League regulations allow clubs to register three new players for the knockout rounds. One of those players can have “been

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Petra Kvitova advanced to the second round of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy on Wednesday, and Caroline Garcia was eliminated. Kvitova, playing as a wild-card entry, beat Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-0. The two-time Wimbledon champion will next play Irina-Camelia Begu. Kvitova landed just 51 percent of her first serves, but was

A Michigan State board of trustees meeting on Wednesday was interrupted by students, who used the meeting to vent frustration about the board’s unanimous decision to pick former Michigan Gov. John Engler as interim president. President Lou Anna Simon resigned last week amid the fallout over sexual assaults committed by former Michigan State sports doctor

Feb 1, 2018 Greg WyshynskiESPN In sports, there are champions. They’re quite happy, what with the celebrations and the historic achievements and all. Then there are teams that are defeated so others can win championships. Depending on the expectations, they’re either content to have had the opportunity, or miserable for having blown one. But then

60% of respondents to a BBC Sport vote in December said ‘grid girls’ should be part of Formula 1 ‘Grid girls’ will no longer be used by Formula 1 from the start of the 2018 World Championship season, organisers have announced. Sean Bratches, managing director of commercial operations, said the change would be made “so